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Best Of Both Worlds

It was a weekday afternoon and I was in need for some change. Living on the East Coast of Canada is great for many reasons, but I definitely jump at the chance to head west whenever I can. This time my plans for visiting the West Coast kept getting pushed back and I had enough. Not worried about the high cost of living and potential brutal rain. I cancelled everything I had planned for the following weeks and booked a one-way ticket for the next day.

Not expecting much but a good time, I contacted a few friends and found some places to stay. Arriving in mid fall I knew the sunny days were numbered, so we took full advantage. Landing in Vancouver, BC we spared no time, getting picked up from the airport and going straight to skating.

Our days were packed with a lot of skating, beers and good times. Jamming into a car we’d cruise around to near by cities to explore what new urban landscapes they had to offer. As a skateboarder you are always on the search for new obstacles to skate, and what easier way to so then by travelling to a new place.

When you hear about British Columbia you don’t really hear much about the cities inside it, but more the amazing mountain landscapes that surround them. Luckily one thing on this trip was our goal to fully experience both aspects of BC.

So as bodies starting getting sore and weary from the long days in the cities. We’d packed our tents an headed into the wild. First stop was usually an icy spa day down in the canyons. The icy waters got us refreshed and ready for the next few days of hiking and camping. Surreal views and locations kept it feeling like a daydream. Hiking above the clouds and camping seaside made us want to never head back to the city. But soon enough, the itch to skate came back strong and we’d be on the search for concrete.

Weeks flew by and before I knew, the time came to book a flight back to Toronto. After experiencing both sides of British Columbia, I can truly say it has it all. Being able to skateboard in a major city, hike some gnarly mountains and catch the sunset at the beach all in the same day is a combination that can’t be beat.

Mainly located in Toronto, Michael Kazimierczuk is a photographer always looking for the next adventure. With a piece of wood and wheels in one hand and camera in the other, he spends most his time in urban landscapes of major cities or hiking among the forest and mountains. Check out his work on Instagram and the Web